Chair: John Hendy QC

Workers around the world are suffering from and struggling against the impact of austerity measures imposed on them by governments, financial bodies and employers. At the same time, the rights of trade unions to represent their members and negotiate collective agreements are under attack around the globe.

Two people who understand these problems more than most and who are tasked with protecting workers and promoting an alternative agenda are the general secretaries of the trade union centres in Britain and at the international level.

In this 2013 ‘In Conversation’ Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the TUC and Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC will outline their priorities in this period of austerity.